Three experiments with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement were conducted to evaluate maize-based diets for broilers containing different lipid sources [soybean oil (S) or beef tallow (T)] supplemented with or without lysophospholipids and organic acids on nutrient balance (Experiment I, evaluation period of 10-14 d), on liver concentration of fat-soluble vitamins, on jejunal microbiota (Experiment II, sampling at d 14) and on performance (Experiment III, accumulated periods of 1-14, 1-21 and 1-42 d). A total of 1344 male chicks were used. In each experiment, the birds were allotted in a completely randomised design with 8 replications. The lysophospholipids were mainly composed of lysolecithins and the organic acids blend was constituted by lactic (40%), acetic (7%) and butyric acids (1%). An interaction between lipid sources and lysophospholipids was observed on faecal apparent digestibility of lipid (ADL), which improved with lysophospholipids addition in T diets. Broilers fed on S had higher ADL and faecal apparent digestibility of nitrogen-corrected gross energy (ADGE). It was not possible to demonstrate a significant treatment effect on the liver concentration of vitamins A and E, even with the differences in fatty acid profile between S and T. Enterobacteria values were below the detection threshold. Lysophospholipid supplementation reduced gram-positive cocci in T-fed birds. S diets promoted lower total anaerobe counts compared with T diets, independent of additives. S diets increased BW gain and feed:gain ratio in all evaluation periods. Lysophospholipids and organic acids improved feed:gain ratio at 1-21 d in T diets. Furthermore, main effects were observed for lysophospholipids and organic acids at 1-42 d, which increased BW gain and improved feed:gain ratio, respectively. No positive interactions between additives were found.

Detailed cleaning and disinfection programs aims to reduce infection pressure from microorganisms from one flock to the next. However, studies evaluating the benefits to poultry performance, the sanitary status of the facilities, and the sanitary quality of the meat are rarely found. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate 2 cleaning and disinfecting programs regarding their influence on productive performance, elimination of Campylobacter, and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni strains when applied to broiler chickens’ facilities. Two subsequent flocks with 960 birds each were distributed into 32 pens containing 30 birds each. In the first, the whole flock was inoculated with a known strain of Campylobacter jejuni in order to contaminate the environment. In the second flock, performance and microbiological evaluations were done, characterizing an observational study between 2 cleaning and disinfection programs, regular and proposed. The regular program consisted of sweeping facilities, washing equipment and environment with water and neutral detergent. The proposed cleaning program consisted of dry and wet cleaning, application of 2 detergents (one acid and one basic) and 2 disinfectants (250 g/L glutaraldehyde and 185 g/L formaldehyde at 0.5% and 210 g/L para-chloro-meta-cresol at 4%). Total microorganism count in the environment and Campylobacter spp. identification were done for the microbiological assessment of the environment and carcasses. The positive samples were submitted to molecular identification of Campylobacter spp. and posterior genetic sequencing of the species identified as Campylobacter jejuni. The birds housed in the facilities and submitted to the proposed treatment had better performance when compared to the ones in the regular treatment, most likely because there was a smaller total microorganism count on the floor, walls, feeders and drinkers. The proposed program also resulted in a reduction of Campylobacter spp. on floors, drinkers and birds. Moreover, it was possible to identify 6 different Campylobacter jejuni strains in the facilities. The proposed treatment resulted in a positive influence on the birds’ performance and reduction of environment contamination for broiler chickens.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotics on performance, intestinal morphology and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens housed on lower or higher environmental challenge. Three hundred male Cobb chicks were distributed into four groups in completely randomised design with treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme to evaluate effects of two diets (with or without probiotics) and two environmental conditions (lower or higher challenge), totaling four treatments with five replications with 15 birds per box. Probiotics were added on diets and were composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Enterococcus faecium. The environment with lower challenge was made up of new wood shavings used as litter, low bird density (8 birds/m 2 ) and daily-cleaned bell drinkers. The environment with higher challenge was made up of re-used wood shavings used as litter (after three broods of broilers), bird density of 16 birds/m 2 with bell drinkers cleaned every two days. No significant interaction between diet and environmental challenge was found for any of the variables evaluated. Performance, slaughterhouse variables and chemical carcass composition were not affected by the use of probiotics. Chicks receiving diets without probiotics had lower intestinal crypt depth (267.1 vs. 316.6 μm, P=0.0068). Birds raised in the environment with higher challenge decreased feed intake (4,660 vs 5,020 g, P=0.0422), weight gain (2,610 vs 2,810 g, P= 0.0054), drumstick and thigh yield (21.98 vs 24.14 %, P=0.0354), and increased crypt depth (325.2 vs 258.5 μm P=0.0009). In conclusion, the probiotic does not promote satisfactory improvements, regardless of the environmental challenge.

In diets based on corn and soybean meal valine is considered the fourth limiting amino acid. Despite that, there have been few studies to date on the response of broilers to dietary valine and most of them use empirical procedures leading to a great variation in the recommendations. Thus, the aim of this study was to quantify the performance and body composition of broiler chickens subjected to different intakes of digestible valine using the dilution technique. Three trials were conducted separately with Cobb 500 broilers in the starter (1-14 days), grower (14-28 days) and finisher phase (28-42 days). In the starter and grower phases, the birds were distributed in a completely randomized design with eight treatments (seven levels of valine and a control treatment), with seven replicates, each consisting of 12 birds for starter and grower phases while 10 birds were used in the finisher phase. Basal diets were formulated by dilution technique, being one summit diet with valine as the first limiting amino acid and diluted with a nitrogen-free diet to obtain the intermediary levels. Valine intake for maximum weight gain, valine deposition, and protein deposition in the defeathered body and feather were estimated with broken-line models. Body fat content was calculated with linear regressions. Results indicate that to maximize performance of broiler chickens across several parameters, the recommended requirement of digestible valine for the starter, grower and finisher diet is 226, 637 and 1231 mg/bird/day, respectively. These recommendations allow achieving optimum performance in the broiler production system but they can be different depending on way birds are sold (whole chicken or cut-up) and age of the birds at slaughter.

No abstract

As aflatoxinas são responsáveis por grandes prejuízos à saúde de aves comerciais e à produção animal, essencialmente por perda financeira decorrente de diminuição de ganho de peso dos animais. A detoxificação da ração ou de suas matérias-primas, bem como tentativas de diminuir a contaminação fúngica que leva à produção das toxinas, além de técnicas nutricionais, são métodos que podem ser adotados para tentar diminuir os efeitos deletérios sobre os frangos de corte. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta revisão é mostrar o que a ciência fornece como meios de detoxificação e/ou redução de contaminação por fungos; e algumas substâncias naturais que auxiliam a produção avícola na redução de micotoxicoses .

BACKGROUND: Poultry activity exposes workers to accidents and unhealthy conditions with physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychological risks. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to list risk factors in poultry farms in operational, behavioral, and environmental aspects. METHODS: We evaluated poultry farm workers through quantitative and qualitative analysis applying a semi-structured online questionnaire containing 58 questions to identify risks in the workplace and health implications. RESULTS: Most facilities were air-conditioned, workers performed their activities in a totally closed environment, with low light (1 to 10 lux), for more than 40 h/wk. Regarding accidents, 61%of workers claimed to have suffered some type of accident, 34%claimed to not use personal protection equipment, and 41%felt unable to perform their activities at some time due to health problems; handling animals and animal waste were the most significant biological risks; dust and ammonia corresponded to the most significant chemical risks; and electric shock, burns, and heat exposure were the most significant physical/accident risks. CONCLUSIONS: Workers expose themselves daily to physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic risks. These exposures often lead to symptoms such as stress, headache, eye and mucous membrane disorders, respiratory diseases, back and muscle pain, depression, and symptoms often associated with Sick Building Syndrome.

Minced fish (MF) is an interesting material for development of novel fish products; however, the mechanical deboning process interferes with MF quality, by increasing the lipid oxidation. This study reports the effect of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) hydro-ethanolic bark extracts as natural antioxidants on both washed and unwashed MF of broadband anchovy during six months of storage at -18 °C. Spray-dried cinnamon extract (DC) and spray-dried cinnamon extract using maltodextrin 10DE (DCM) as a carrier were evaluated in relation to antioxidant activity in vitro. DC and sodium erythobarte were added to both washed and unwashed MF at 0.25% (w:w), whilst DCM was added at 1.055% (w:w). The DC extract presented higher antioxidant activity in vitro compared to DCM extract. The addition of cinnamon extracts reduced the lipid oxidation in washed and unwashed MF compared with the controls. C. zeylanicum extracts can be used to prevent lipid oxidation in MF during the frozen storage and are alternatives for food industries that seek to meet the demand of consumers increasingly concerned with the consumption of healthy foods.